Los Angeles Lakers Team Preview 2010-2011
By Anonymous
Tue, 10/26/2010 - 12:51pm
By Ryan Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers are in a unique position as they enter the 2010/2011 season. They begin their quest for a “3 peat”, which would put them in the conversation as one of the greatest teams in NBA history and mark this era as one of the best eras in franchise history. This speaks volumes about the core of this group given the fact that the franchise has 16 NBA championships trophies and a coach with 10. Should they accomplish the “3 peat” the Lakers would tie the most championships in franchise history and [player: Kobe Bryant] would have his second trifecta equaling the standard of the “G.O.A.T.” Michael Jordan. With all this history riding on the balance the 2010/11 season could be a very pivotal one for the future of this storied franchise.
Kobe Bryant
Questions abound heading into the 2010/11 season. Will this be Phil Jackson’s last season on the bench of the Lakers and swan song from the NBA? Last we saw Kobe he had less of a stellar game 7 performance, and given the permanent finger injury and an off season surgery, how much longer can Kobe play at an All NBA level and still be considered as the best closer in the game? Can [player: Andrew Bynum] recover from knee surgery? Will Ron Artest behave now that he has his ring? Will [player: Steve Blake] and [player: Matt Barnes] be good fits in the triangle offense? Will they be fatigued after playing 200 games over the last two years?
The Bad
Knees have not been a good offseason story in the Los Angeles. Kobe Bryant is coming back from knee surgery that is delaying his participation in preseason. Bryant should be fine as he has proven time and again that he is one the strongest willed players in NBA history at playing with injuries. The question around Bryant is as he ages and gets more miles on his odometer whether age will catch up with him? Andrew Bynum delayed his knee surgery 6 weeks after the Lakers championship and now will be out till the middle of November. Bynum has never been able to stay healthy enough to merit his 58 million dollar deal he signed in 2008 and recent news that he’ll be working back into game shape midway through the season cannot sit well with Laker supporters.
The other bit of bad news in LA had nothing to do with them but happened thousands of miles away. With Bosh, Wade, and James joining forces in Miami many questions arise about whether the aging Lakers roster can beat them. With the core of their team approaching the twilight of their career the time is now in LA and they may be facing their stiffest challenge yet.
The Good
They are the defending champions for a reason and that is due to their all world talent. With Kobe Bryant’s competitiveness and ability, they should remain contenders for the title. Don’t think for a minute that Bryant hasn’t added more motivation to his already out of world competitive streak. Watching Kevin Durant carry the load in Turkey this summer motivates him more on and individual level to prove he is still the worlds best. Hearing about how great the HEAT are and how they should run away with the title has only motivated him more on a team level. If Bryant is healthy he should be more motivated than ever.
Great teams do not have to undergo major overhauls and continuity is a huge plus for the Lakers. Adding veterans Steve Blake and Matt Barnes should not disrupt their chemistry and bring even more veteran savvy to this unit. While Jordan Farmar showed bursts of potential he was far too inconsistent for coach Phil Jackson. Blake may not possess Farmar’s athleticism but he should provide steadier bench play. If Matt Barnes' off the court issues don’t catch up to him, his intensity and hunger should energize this team and help them avoid any complacency during the 2010/11 season.
Individual Forecasts
The Lakers will only go as far as Kobe Bryant takes them. Bryant has slowly revamped his image from a selfish leader to a player looking to cement his legacy in NBA lore as one of the greatest ever. Fans and critics alike are still split on Bryant’s leadership ability, but a handful of rings proves that he is one of the greats.
Ron Artest
Seemingly lost in the shuffle are New York natives [player: Ron Artest] and [player: Lamar Odom]. Imagining Artest flying under the radar is a disturbing thought but after his contributions in the NBA finals last year Artest now has proven he can show up on the biggest stages and will be counted on again this year. Odom again proved he is a versatile and valuable forward at the world championships in Turkey his consistent play off the bench will again be needed.
[player: Pau Gasol] again proved that he has found a perfect home in Los Angeles. Like a Chris Bosh in Toronto, he can put up impressive numbers as the go to player on his own team, but he could never get out of the first round of the playoffs on his own. Playing second fiddle to Kobe has allowed Gasol to blossom into maybe the best offensive NBA post player. Gasol’s game is perfect for the triangle offense as he plays with such intelligence. His passing ability is a perfect fit in LA and he does not need the ball in his hands a lot to make plays happen. Watch for Gasol’s numbers to improve early in the season as Bryant eases back in with his knee injury and Bynum is recovering from his.
Ageless point guard [player: Derek Fisher] will again be counted on to produce in the clutch for the Lakers but could see his regular season minutes split more with Steve Blake. There is something about Fisher that just fits with LA. So many good memories for Lakers fans as very few players have hit as many important shots as Fisher has. As with many on the roster, one has to wonder whether father time will catch up with Fisher as he enters his 15th season.
Super athletic [player: Shannon Brown] could see an increased role with the departure of Jordan Farmar. Brown showed flashes of brilliance last year and his quickness will be vital to this aging squad. Depending on Bryant’s health and Artest’s sanity, Brown could be a key cog in the Laker’s attack.
Conclusion
Until someone takes it from them, the Lakers are still the NBA champions and as along as #24 is suiting up for them, they have a shot at the title. The key for this team is whether they are healthy and in shape rolling into the playoffs. If they are, they would have to be considered the favorites in the West regardless of seeding. Either way, there will be plenty of drama coming from the LA this year as it could be Jackson’s last on the bench. Stay tuned.
Predicted Record: 53 - 29
Preseason Roster:
37 Ron Artest F 6-7 St. John's
9 Matt Barnes F 6-7 UCLA
5 Steve Blake G 6-3 Maryland
12 Shannon Brown G 6-4 Michigan State
24 Kobe Bryant G 6-6 Lower Merion HS (PA)
17 Andrew Bynum C 7-0 St. Joseph HS (NJ)
45 Derrick Caracter F 6-9 Texas-El Paso R
3 Devin Ebanks F 6-9 West Virginia R
2 Derek Fisher G 6-1 Arkansas-Little Rock
16 Pau Gasol F-C 7-0 Barcelona, Spain
1 Trey Johnson G-F 6-5 Jackson State
41 Drew Naymick C-F 6-10 Michigan State R
7 Lamar Odom F 6-10 Rhode Island
50 Theo Ratliff C 6-10 Wyoming
18 Sasha Vujacic G 6-7 Maribor, Slovenia
4 Luke Walton F 6-8 Arizona
The Los Angeles Lakers are in a unique position as they enter the 2010/2011 season. They begin their quest for a “3 peat”, which would put them in the conversation as one of the greatest teams in NBA history and mark this era as one of the best eras in franchise history. This speaks volumes about the core of this group given the fact that the franchise has 16 NBA championships trophies and a coach with 10. Should they accomplish the “3 peat” the Lakers would tie the most championships in franchise history and [player: Kobe Bryant] would have his second trifecta equaling the standard of the “G.O.A.T.” Michael Jordan. With all this history riding on the balance the 2010/11 season could be a very pivotal one for the future of this storied franchise.
Kobe BryantQuestions abound heading into the 2010/11 season. Will this be Phil Jackson’s last season on the bench of the Lakers and swan song from the NBA? Last we saw Kobe he had less of a stellar game 7 performance, and given the permanent finger injury and an off season surgery, how much longer can Kobe play at an All NBA level and still be considered as the best closer in the game? Can [player: Andrew Bynum] recover from knee surgery? Will Ron Artest behave now that he has his ring? Will [player: Steve Blake] and [player: Matt Barnes] be good fits in the triangle offense? Will they be fatigued after playing 200 games over the last two years?
The Bad
Knees have not been a good offseason story in the Los Angeles. Kobe Bryant is coming back from knee surgery that is delaying his participation in preseason. Bryant should be fine as he has proven time and again that he is one the strongest willed players in NBA history at playing with injuries. The question around Bryant is as he ages and gets more miles on his odometer whether age will catch up with him? Andrew Bynum delayed his knee surgery 6 weeks after the Lakers championship and now will be out till the middle of November. Bynum has never been able to stay healthy enough to merit his 58 million dollar deal he signed in 2008 and recent news that he’ll be working back into game shape midway through the season cannot sit well with Laker supporters.
The other bit of bad news in LA had nothing to do with them but happened thousands of miles away. With Bosh, Wade, and James joining forces in Miami many questions arise about whether the aging Lakers roster can beat them. With the core of their team approaching the twilight of their career the time is now in LA and they may be facing their stiffest challenge yet.
The Good
They are the defending champions for a reason and that is due to their all world talent. With Kobe Bryant’s competitiveness and ability, they should remain contenders for the title. Don’t think for a minute that Bryant hasn’t added more motivation to his already out of world competitive streak. Watching Kevin Durant carry the load in Turkey this summer motivates him more on and individual level to prove he is still the worlds best. Hearing about how great the HEAT are and how they should run away with the title has only motivated him more on a team level. If Bryant is healthy he should be more motivated than ever.
Great teams do not have to undergo major overhauls and continuity is a huge plus for the Lakers. Adding veterans Steve Blake and Matt Barnes should not disrupt their chemistry and bring even more veteran savvy to this unit. While Jordan Farmar showed bursts of potential he was far too inconsistent for coach Phil Jackson. Blake may not possess Farmar’s athleticism but he should provide steadier bench play. If Matt Barnes' off the court issues don’t catch up to him, his intensity and hunger should energize this team and help them avoid any complacency during the 2010/11 season.
Individual Forecasts
The Lakers will only go as far as Kobe Bryant takes them. Bryant has slowly revamped his image from a selfish leader to a player looking to cement his legacy in NBA lore as one of the greatest ever. Fans and critics alike are still split on Bryant’s leadership ability, but a handful of rings proves that he is one of the greats.
Ron ArtestSeemingly lost in the shuffle are New York natives [player: Ron Artest] and [player: Lamar Odom]. Imagining Artest flying under the radar is a disturbing thought but after his contributions in the NBA finals last year Artest now has proven he can show up on the biggest stages and will be counted on again this year. Odom again proved he is a versatile and valuable forward at the world championships in Turkey his consistent play off the bench will again be needed.
[player: Pau Gasol] again proved that he has found a perfect home in Los Angeles. Like a Chris Bosh in Toronto, he can put up impressive numbers as the go to player on his own team, but he could never get out of the first round of the playoffs on his own. Playing second fiddle to Kobe has allowed Gasol to blossom into maybe the best offensive NBA post player. Gasol’s game is perfect for the triangle offense as he plays with such intelligence. His passing ability is a perfect fit in LA and he does not need the ball in his hands a lot to make plays happen. Watch for Gasol’s numbers to improve early in the season as Bryant eases back in with his knee injury and Bynum is recovering from his.
Ageless point guard [player: Derek Fisher] will again be counted on to produce in the clutch for the Lakers but could see his regular season minutes split more with Steve Blake. There is something about Fisher that just fits with LA. So many good memories for Lakers fans as very few players have hit as many important shots as Fisher has. As with many on the roster, one has to wonder whether father time will catch up with Fisher as he enters his 15th season.
Super athletic [player: Shannon Brown] could see an increased role with the departure of Jordan Farmar. Brown showed flashes of brilliance last year and his quickness will be vital to this aging squad. Depending on Bryant’s health and Artest’s sanity, Brown could be a key cog in the Laker’s attack.
Conclusion
Until someone takes it from them, the Lakers are still the NBA champions and as along as #24 is suiting up for them, they have a shot at the title. The key for this team is whether they are healthy and in shape rolling into the playoffs. If they are, they would have to be considered the favorites in the West regardless of seeding. Either way, there will be plenty of drama coming from the LA this year as it could be Jackson’s last on the bench. Stay tuned.
Predicted Record: 53 - 29
Preseason Roster:
37 Ron Artest F 6-7 St. John's
9 Matt Barnes F 6-7 UCLA
5 Steve Blake G 6-3 Maryland
12 Shannon Brown G 6-4 Michigan State
24 Kobe Bryant G 6-6 Lower Merion HS (PA)
17 Andrew Bynum C 7-0 St. Joseph HS (NJ)
45 Derrick Caracter F 6-9 Texas-El Paso R
3 Devin Ebanks F 6-9 West Virginia R
2 Derek Fisher G 6-1 Arkansas-Little Rock
16 Pau Gasol F-C 7-0 Barcelona, Spain
1 Trey Johnson G-F 6-5 Jackson State
41 Drew Naymick C-F 6-10 Michigan State R
7 Lamar Odom F 6-10 Rhode Island
50 Theo Ratliff C 6-10 Wyoming
18 Sasha Vujacic G 6-7 Maribor, Slovenia
4 Luke Walton F 6-8 Arizona
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